但是，也许更加愚蠢的经营论调是，认为在学校读书读到22岁是全面发展所必需，或者告诉无数孩子，他们的未来取决于完成一项事实上只有少数人才能完成的任务。 (来源：英语杂志 http://www.EnglishCN.com)

The good news is that there have never been more alternatives to the traditional college. Online learning is more flexible and affordable than the brick-and-mortar model of higher education. Certification tests could be developed so that in many occupations employers could get more useful knowledge about a job applicant than whether he has a degree.

令人欣慰的是，传统大学之外的选择现在前所未有之多。网络教育比传统的高等教育模式更灵活，更负担得起。可以发展多种证书考试，这样在许多行业中，雇主们就能了解与求职者有关的更多有用信息，而不只是看他是否有一纸文凭。

Career and technical education could be expanded at a fraction of the cost of college subsidies. Occupational licensure rules could be relaxed to create opportunities for people without formal education.

可以扩大职业与技术教育，而其花费仅相当于大学补贴的一部分。可以放宽职业许可证发放规则，给没有接受正规教育的人创造机会。

It is absurd that people have to get college degrees to be considered for good jobs in hotel management or accounting--or journalism. It is inefficient, both because it wastes a lot of money and because it locks people who would have done good work out of some jobs.

实属荒谬的一点是，只有获得大学学位的人，才能有机会得到酒店管理、财会——抑或新闻行业的好工作。这是一种低效之见，因为它既浪费了大量金钱，也将本能干好某些工作的人挡在门外。

The tight connection between college degrees and economic success may be a nearly unquestioned part of our social order. Future generations may look back and shudder at the cruelty of it.

大学学位与经济成功之间的紧密联系可能是我们社会秩序中几乎不受质疑的部分。当后辈人回首时，可能会对它的残酷性不寒而栗。